Single grub/larva on kitchen table

August 10, 2010 11:01 AM

Found this grub/maggot/larva on kitchen table. (Apartment's kitchen, "dining area," living area are all connected.) Just a single bug, not a whole clutch of them. Should I be concerned? I kind of expected there would be more of them. Did it come out of the nearby fruit dish with apples and bananas? Do I have to do any radical cleaning? Is my kitchen that dirty?
posted by Busoni to Science & Nature (9 answers total)

I'd check dried goods, like cereal boxes, oatmeal, etc, as you pour them out. Check your fruit for rotten spots. Otherwise I wouldn't be too concerned. I'd guess him a lone adventurer into your kitchen.

Just keep watching your food before you eat it. If you pay attention to what you're about to put in your mouth, it's pretty easy to not eat large bugs.
posted by citywolf at 11:12 AM on August 10, 2010

Another thing to check for critters: flour.
posted by phunniemee at 11:13 AM on August 10, 2010

Looks like a meal worm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealworm
posted by iam2bz2p at 11:19 AM on August 10, 2010

I've had visitors like that in my apartment who got there by hitchhiking on a head of lettuce or other leafy greens. It's usually just one that was hiding there when the produce was harvested...
posted by kaudio at 11:24 AM on August 10, 2010

Does it have legs? Or is it just the body?
posted by Solomon at 11:28 AM on August 10, 2010

That is definitely a mealworm, I raise them and feed them to my lizards. I probably have a bunch of escapees in the room all my animals are in. Check dry goods, and if you have any piles of clothing on your floor make sure to get them off your floor. The little buggers like to hide in them. They turn into black beetles after a while so if you suddenly notice beetles running around your house that's why.

Are any of your neighbors reptile enthusiasts?
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 11:51 AM on August 10, 2010

Response by poster: Yeah, sounds and looks like a mealworm. Guess I should check my cereals and whatnot, but apparently you can eat them, so whatevs.
posted by Busoni at 12:14 PM on August 10, 2010

It looks like a mealworm - echoing what everyone else said. Also check dried oatmeal and bags of sugar if you have them stored in cabinets as well as any dry bags of pet food.
posted by floweredfish at 1:15 PM on August 10, 2010

Also check your breadbox, and beneath it (crumbs).
posted by IAmBroom at 10:46 AM on August 18, 2010